An on-off boyfriend who tried to kill his partner in a bloody knife attack - leaving her paralysed for life - will be sentenced today.

Donovan Golding stabbed his girlfriend of three years Nicolita Ghete 13 times in her own home in Hindes Road, Harrow, and the wounds she received to her neck, chest and back have left her unable to move from the neck down.

The 35-year-old defendant, a barber of Atlip Road, Wembley, denied attempted murder but a Harrow Crown Court jury convicted him after just 45 minutes' deliberations on January 15, and his sentencing was adjourned until today.

Prosecutor Lyall Thompson told the trial: “This is a distressing case that involves a near-fatal knife attack involving life-changing injuries.”

The court heard Golding was outside Ms Ghete’s home in Hindes Road, Harrow, on July 8 last year when Ms Ghete’s ex-husband dropped off their 10-year-old son so the boy could collect his school uniform from the flat.

Golding seized the chance to enter the property when Ms Ghete opened the door to let the youngster in. The son left within 20 minutes and later a neighbour overheard Ms Ghete and Golding arguing.

Mr Thompson said: “Golding sounded like he was crying and begging to Ms Ghete, but shortly afterwards he became aggressive. The neighbour opened the front door to his flat and saw Mr Golding stood in the front door to Ms Ghete’s flat. He could see blood on his sleeve and on the floor. Mr Golding kept trying to block the view into the flat. The neighbour called the police.”

Golding did not allow the police to enter the flat on arrival and officers resorted to breaking down the door.

They found the victim lying on the floor bleeding, struggling to breathe, with obvious stab wounds to the  neck and chest. Next to her was Golding, who was also bleeding.

hindes road stabbing
hindes road stabbing

Mr Thompson added: “Mr Golding had stab wounds which appeared to have been self inflicted. Ms Ghete was stabbed twice in the breast bone area, three times in the left shoulder and there were seven to eight incisions to the neck area. She was in a coma for several days and has no recollection of the attack.”

Golding said in a defence statement he and money shop worker Ms Ghete – who gave evidence from her hospital bed – had planned last year to get engaged and have a child together.

He claimed his and Ms Ghete’s injuries were sustained by falling into a wall and said he could not remember the rest of the incident.

But Mr Thompson told the jury: “It is self-evident that it was him who carried out the attack. There are no circumstances that such an assault can be justified.”